Welcome To
MSA
Down Under
Help us Defeat MSA Now
Defeat MSA Down Under is a registered charity serving the needs of those affected by Multiple System Atrophy in Australia and New Zealand. It aspires to balance patient support, medical education, public awareness and promising research.
News From Social Media
Just posted a photo @ Gisborne, New Zealand https://www.instagram.com/p/CJzsVYOsAKU/?igshid=7xftoybg5b27
Just posted a photo https://www.instagram.com/p/CJRTwN9sk4e/?igshid=biixdl4t9huz
Raise Awareness with What You Wear! View Shop on Our Profile, Facebook Page or Website: http://www.msadownunder.org.au #defeatmsa #kickmsa #msashop https://www.instagram.com/p/CJMDS2TMes3/?igshid=t8vp5lcnuqfd
#GiveHelpGiveHope 
#RaysOfHope
GIVE HELP, GIVE HOPE – RAYS OF HOPE HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER!
& WE ARE EARMARKING ALL HOLIDAYS FUNDS FOR RESEARCH!
Help Us Support MSA Research!
Help Us Support MSA Patients!
Help Us Support MSA Awareness!
Help Us Educate Medical Professionals!
Four Ways to Support Our Efforts
Create #MyCause Holiday Fundraiser (dedications to a loved one are possible too):
https://www.mycause.com.au/charity/
Create #RaysofHope Facebook Fundraiser:
https://www.facebook.com/fund/msadownunder/
Donate Directly On Our Secure Website (dedications to a loved one are possible too):
http://www.msadownunder.org.au/donate-to-us/
Donate By Check:
Defeat MSA Australia and New Zealand
Post Office Box 66, Moranbah,
Queensland, 4744
NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL – BECAUSE EVERY AMOUNT GIVES HOPE TO THOSE THAT NEED IT!
MSA Research
Patient Programs
MSA Education
Public Awareness
Giving Programs
LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED?
LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED?
MSA Expert
Spotlight
Wouter Peelaerts, PhD
KU Leuven, Belgium
Dr. Wouter Peelaerts is an experienced neuroscientist with special expertise in degenerative brain diseases. He earned his Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from KU Leuven and subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship there focused on neurobiology and gene therapy under the mentorship of Prof. Veerle Baekelandt. His efforts helped uncover new insights that further link the abnormal protein alpha-synuclein to neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Parkinson’s and Multiple System Atrophy. He has received numerous accolades for his research, including the 2020 JiePie award for MSA research, a prestigious 2017–2019 Fulbright Fellowship and the ATCG and ID&T postdoctoral award. In 2017, he joined the lab of Dr. Patrik Brundin at Van Andel Institute, MI, USA. His current research focuses on drug repurposing and how infections can trigger Multiple System Atrophy. Dr. Peelaerts serves on the Scientific and Medical Research Advisory Committee for the six charities that make up MSA United International Consortium, which includes Defeat MSA Alliance (USA). He is Chair of the Alliance’s Scientific Research Section.
List of Publications
Christopher T. Tulisiak, Mercado G, Peelaerts W, Brundin L, Brundin P. 2019. Chapter Seventeen – Can infections trigger alpha-synucleinopathies? Progress in molecular biology and translational science. Vol 168. Pages 299-322.
Quansah E*, Peelaerts W*, Langston JW, Simon DK, Colca J, Brundin P. 2018. Targeting energy metabolism via the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier as a novel approach to attenuate neurodegeneration. Mol Neurodegener 13:28.
*Contributed equally
Peelaerts W, Outeiro TF. 2017. Synuclein misfolding as a therapeutic target. Disease-modifying therapies and targets in neurodegenerative disorders. Academic Press.
Peelaerts W, Baekelandt V. 2016. ɑ-Synuclein strains and the variable pathologies of synucleinopathies. J Neurochem 139(Suppl 1):256–274.
Spotlight Links
“Sticking With MSA” -Dr. Wouter Peelearts (Defeat MSA Alliance Blog Launch, April 2019)
Integrated DNA Technologies and Advanced Technologies and Community Giving Foundation award (2017)
FWO postdoctoral fellowship (2017 – 2020)
Annual Award for Movement Disorders, best scientific article published by a young investigator (2015)
about the
Defeat MSA Awareness Shoe – #KickMSA
The Defeat MSA Awareness Shoe ™ has traveled to dozens of countries, rubbed shoulders with some notable people and visited many famous landmarks. The Shoe is a tool for spreading MSA awareness, increasing support for MSA patients and their caregivers and fighting MSA by raising vital research dollars. It’s journey is undertaken in memory of all those that have died due to MSA and in support of all those presently fighting Multiple System Atrophy!
To date, the Shoe has “Kicked MSA” in a dozen countries across the world.
As of 2020, our beloved Shoe is kicking MSA down under. If you are in Australia or New Zealand and you interested in having the Shoe stop by, send us an email: themsashoe@gmail.com
We will do our best to include in the schedule!
#DefeatMSA #KickMSA #DefeetMSA #MSAdownunder
about the
Defeat MSA Awareness Shoe – #KickMSA
The Defeat MSA Awareness Shoe ™ has traveled to dozens of countries, rubbed shoulders with some notable people and visited many famous landmarks. The Shoe is a tool for spreading MSA awareness, increasing support for MSA patients and their caregivers and fighting MSA by raising vital research dollars. It’s journey is undertaken in memory of all those that have died due to MSA and in support of all those presently fighting Multiple System Atrophy!
To date, the Shoe has “Kicked MSA” in a dozen countries across the world. Learn more about the story and the globetrotting journey of the MSA Awareness Shoe. #DefeatMSA #KickMSA
Join the world-wide MSA Awareness initiative
Join the world-wide MSA Awareness initiative
Patients Need Our Help
Defeat MSA Down Under invites all our friends and allies, around the world, to join us in this noble fight, to speak for those who cannot, with one mind, one heart and one voice: to Defeat MSA forever!
Join the world-wide MSA Awareness initiative
Our Legacy Grants
Our Legacy Grants
The Defeat MSA Down Under special Individual Named Legacy Grants program enables donors to fund a scientific research, medical education, patient support or public awareness grant and name it in their own name, in tribute to someone or in memory of a loved one. The Legacy Grants program designates four levels of grants: $15,000 (Platinum), $10,000 (Gold), $5,000 (Silver) and $2,500 (Bronze). MSA research grants begin at the $10,000 level. Please email us: director@msadownunder.org.au
MSA Blogs
Caregiver’s Blog
“Are we there yet?..No”- Anne Kastelic (Caregiver, Ohio)
Caregiver Blog Post #2 The road to diagnosis... Are we there yet?...No Now?...No When are we going to get there? Said anyone who has taken a road trip. Our trip took 3 1/2 years to get a doctor to agree to a diagnosis of "possible/probable MSA" and we were seeing...
“But I’d of had to miss the dance…” – Anne Kastelic (Caregiver, Cleveland, Ohio)
“But I’d of had to miss the dance…” – Anne Kastelic (Caregiver, Cleveland, Ohio) Today I opened Facebook to see a call for a caregiver writing opportunity for Defeat MSA’s “Caregiver’s Blog.” The idea is to share our story in an effort to help others on the MSA...
Researcher’s Blog
“ANNOUNCING NEW MSA GENETIC STUDY IN CANADA”
November 23, 2020 WINDSOR, ON – Defeat MSA Down Under sister charities, Defeat MSA Canada/Vaincre L’AMS Canada, Defeat MSA Alliance: Defeat Multiple System Atrophy and MSA United International consortium enthusiastically announce a new genetic study in partnership...
“REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, Genetics and MSA” By Lynne Krohn (McGill, Montréal)
Lynne Krohn, PhD student, McGill University (Montréal) A major goal in MSA research is to develop successful clinical interventions which can stop or slow the disease progression. Currently, there are options available for symptomatic treatment of MSA, but no...
Advocate’s Blog
GIVE HELP, GIVE HOPE – RAYS OF HOPE HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER!
GIVE HELP, GIVE HOPE - ANNOUNCING THE 2020 RAYS OF HOPE HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER! Help Us Support MSA Research in Australia and New Zealand! Help Us Support MSA Patients and Carers in Australia and New Zealand! Help Us Support MSA Awareness in Australia and New Zealand!...
#GIVINGTUESDAY – ON DECEMBER 1 – FUNDRAISERS!
Announcing Defeat MSA Down Under #GivingTuesday 2020 Facebook or My Cause Fundraiser! December 1, 2020 is #GivingTuesday. Please consider helping Defeat MSA Down Under with a Facebook Fundraiser, My Cause Holiday Fundraiser or a Direct Donation! We Need Your Support...
BREAKING NEWS – GLOBAL VIRTUAL MSA CONFERENCE, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 – FREE, INFORMATIVE & SAFE
Defeat MSA Down Under, Defeat MSA Alliance and MSA United International Consortium associated charities are excited to announce the world’s first MSA virtual conference! The Global MSA Virtual Support Symposium is FREE FOR ALL and will take place on Saturday, the 19th...
Patient’s Blog
“Finding Balance with MSA” – Joshua Calvert (Patient, Australia)
My name is Josh I am 46 years of age. My passions include surfing gardening, travelling, and cooking. I worked as registered nurse for 24 years both in Australia and the United Kingdom. I have been married for 20 years and have a 14-year-old son. I live in Illawarra...
“Defeat MSA allied charities were formed to give voice to those affected by this little known, devastating disease. Indescribable grief and suffering has been channeled into positive action to help fund crucial research and provide ongoing support for those dealing with MSA. Each one of the Defeat MSA charities are worthwhile organizations. I hope to see each of them continue to grow and reach more and more people in need.”
Elena Fracassa, MS
“All the charities associated with Defeat MSA are committed to the funding of clinical research, that kind which is most valuable to patients living with MSA today. Defeat MSA is also dedicated to supporting patients, educating medical professionals and raising public awareness. This disease does not have a marathon or a 5k run; instead they use an intriguing device: a traveling shoe in a symbolic marathon to spread awareness within the medical community and among the general public about this devastating disease.”
Dr. Pratik Bhattacharya, MD, MPH
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